Everglades Restaurant

It’s rare a full course meal with drinks happens in one sitting but the portions served at The Everglades were just right to feel satiated by meal’s end. Everyone was accommodating, personable, and made me feel welcomed throughout this dining experience. When I finished, I asked to thank the Chef and he actually took a moment from his busy schedule to visit with me for a brief chat so I could express my appreciation to him for a memorable dining experience.

A quiet place to enjoy a great meal.

I came here on a Thursday evening around 6:30pm with no reservation. It was quiet with a few parties there and I was seated immediately by the pleasant host.

Antonette served me and she was stellar. She was very polite, professional and knowledgeable about the menu. She took her time and offered insightful menu recommendations.

The first thing I had was a complimentary, assorted bead basket with olive dip. I don’t even like olives but I really enjoyed having the dip on sliced baguette pieces. I couldn’t get enough.

I also had the Chilean sea bass with risotto, artichokes and tomatoes for dinner. I was very pleased. The flavor, texture and presentation were perfect. It was the right amount of food and taste. I ate it all - feeling satisfied but not stuffed.

I enjoyed the Hester Street Olde Fashioned with my meal. It was exactly what I wanted and how it should be. It was strong but not overpowering with a subtle sweetness. Perfect!

I also got a crab cake to-go. This is one of the good crab cakes that’s all meat instead of mostly bread crumbs and fillers. It has substance and flavor.

Overall, I’d come here again and would recommend it. It’s even good for a solo dinner. They take good care of you. Don’t let the slightly dated wildlife decor deter you, this is a fine dining experience indeed.

From the moment we walked into The Everglades at Rosen Centre on I-Drive, we were immersed in a really cool tribute to Florida’s iconic wetlands as the name implies. Gators, frogs, panthers, birds, and a fish tank decorate the restaurant adding a very nice touch that adds to the ambiance of the dining experience.

The Everglades was the next restaurant on our Magical Dining tour and were really impressed. For appetizers, we started out with the Everglades Garden Greens (our salad). For entrées, the Grilled Angus Filet stole the show (definitely the highlight of our dinner). The Char Grilled Halibut was exceptionally good and flavorful. For dessert, we had the Tiramisu Martini and the Tropical Cheesecake. I'm not big on cheesecake, but the Pineapple and Mango-Passionfruit flavors really surprised me.

The staff was very attentive and frequently checked in on us, which is always nice.

What a wonderful experience getting to preview magical dining a day early at the Everglades Restaurant! The theming inside is amazing and so bright and colorful! I got to sample all the foods on the magical dining menu and my favorite was the sea bass which is one of my favorite fish, the steak and the alligator chowder which I didn’t think I would like but it was better than I thought it would be! The chocolate martini was my favorite dessert and it looks so cool! It was fun celebrating 20 years of magical dining and trying the different dishes! Also it’s nice that they have the parking garage of the Rosen hotel for self parking that’s complimentary and you just walk past the convention center and the restaurant is on the right!

I'm reviewing the Everglades based on a private event I attended last night. We had the chance to taste every single item from a Magical Dining menu in just one night.

The restaurant is located inside one of Orlando's most famous hotels, right on International Drive. Not only is it in a prime tourist spot connected to the Convention Center, but the décor itself is a constant reminder that you're in Florida, inspired by the swamps of the Everglades.

I enjoyed all the dishes, but the highlights and a few lowlights were:

* Alligator chowder: the alligator pieces were tiny, and the tomato flavor was so strong that it was hard to tell if we were eating alligator, chicken, or something else...?
* Garden greens: a classic salad with feta and berries, but I loved that they added arugula instead of spinach or spring mix. The olive oil was delicious and flavorful. I wish I had asked for its brand.
* Watermelon with pistachio-crusted goat cheese: pistachio and goat cheese in one bite? Yes, please. Absolutely delicious and it was my first time trying this combination.
* Angus filet: tender and juicy. Cooked perfectly but underseasoned. The red wine sauce was tasty but a bit too thin for my liking. It could have been thicker and more concentrated.
* Sea bass: my favorite of the night. This fish is already a piece of art on its own but the olive crust really took it up a notch with its salty punch. The béarnaise sauce was fine, but I would have preferred a good olive oil instead, as the rich, buttery béarnaise did not feel like the best match for the fish and olives.
* Halibut: other Yelpies enjoyed it, but my piece was a little dry and lacking salt. When I paired it with the salmon roe on top, it was much better, as the roe added both saltiness and moisture. The black garlic sauce was barely noticeable.
* Chocolate ganache cake: unfortunately, it tasted like a simple sponge cake with ganache one can find at a cruise ship buffet. A bit disappointing.
* Tiramisu martini: great idea, but the execution fell short. The cream to ladyfinger to coffee ratio was too heavy on the cream. I did not taste the mascarpone I was expecting. I would have added a cinnamon or coffee latte flavor to bring more depth to cream and added less.
* Tropical cheesecake: I am not usually a fan of tropical desserts or cheesecake, but this one won me over. Pineapple cheesecake, mango passionfruit sauce, toasted coconut cream, and a crispy pineapple chip -- yum! It was a fun and multidimensional dessert where each bite could be mixed differently. I wish I could have taken some home!